Friday, April 29, 2005

Aromatherapy, the use of essential oils, is used to providea balance in body and mind, prevent and fight infections,and promote a sense of well-being. Essential oils arederived by extracting base oil from plants throughdistillation. The history of Aromatherapy stretches backhundreds of years and includes a many diverse cultures.Plants and their essential oils have powerful effects on ourlives.

Essential oils in can be used in aromatherapy in manydifferent ways. There are guidelines for using essentialoils, it's important to follow the guidelines because someof the oils can be harmful if used inappropriately. Someoils cannot be used directly on the skin and must be dilutedwith carrier oil before being placed on the skin.

There are soaps and creams made with essential oils. Theseitems make it easy for you to start including them in yourdaily routines. Each oil has an explicit purpose. The oilsare usually delivered via a base cream made up of severalblends. Look for creams that will give you energy, restorevitality or even relaxation. You can have fun experimentingby using unscented creams and mixing various essential oilsinto them. It will probably take a few tries, but you aresure to find some great experiences.

Inhalations are another popular method of aromatherapy.This method is especially useful with essential oils thathelp to fight infections. One of the easiest ways toaccomplish this is to place several drops of a particularoil, such as tea tree oil, into a bowl of hot water andinhale the steam that comes off the water. It is veryimportant to not use too much of each essential oil. Startoff with only a couple drops, some people find certain oilsvery overpowering. You can also use essential oils in adiffuser. While the effects may not be as powerful asdirect inhalations, the effects of certain blends can bevery calming and leave a pleasant scent in your home.

A few words of caution when using essential oils foraromatherapy: many oils are not recommended for use withchildren or animals. If you have children, especially veryyoung ones, you should be sure to check the properties ofeach type of essential oil before using it, even if it isjust in a diffuser. If you feel that a child could benefitfrom direct contact with an essential oil you should checkwith a pediatrician first. Many animals are particularlysensitive to essential oils, even when used in very smalldoses in a diffuser. Overuse of essential oils canactually cause liver damage in some pets. If you shareyour home with animals, please try to limit your use ofessential oils in a diffuser and perhaps stick to usingthem in creams. Before considering using an essential oildirectly on your pet please visit your veterinarian.

Aromatherapy is a wonderful way to enhance your lifethrough balance in your body and mind. The use ofessential oils can have not only profound effects on aperson~s mood, but it can affect your body as well.Essential oils can be very powerful, and must be usedcarefully and responsibly, especially when beingadministered to a child or pet. The world of aromatherapyis vast and complex, and the benefits can improve your lifegreatly.

Claire Evesham is the owner ofFeel Good Aromatherapy,the #1 source on the internet for information aboutAromatherapy. For more articles on Aromatherapy visit:http://www.feelgoodaromatherapy.com/articles

*The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. The information presented here is for educational purposes of traditional uses and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any diseases.